University of St. Thomas Athletics
Bethel
Football loses at Bethel 40-6
9/13/2003 12:00:00 AM | Football
Host Bethel raced to a 30-0 halftime lead en route to a 40-6 win over the Tommies in Saturday's MIAC football game in Arden Hills.
The Royals (2-0 overall, 1-0 MIAC), avenged a 49-25 loss at St. Thomas lasts eason. They outgained the Tommies 417-178 yards and allowed just six first downs and 16 rushing yards on 26 carries.
The Tommies played without senior defensive standout John Kaiser -- breaking a streak of 61 consecutive games that a Kaiser brother was in the Tommie starting lineup. They also played without starting QB Justin Lockrem, who was injured late in last week's 21-19 loss at St. Norbert.
The Toms (0-2, 0-1 MIAC) averted a shutout in the final 90 seconds. Backup QB Dan Fritze completed a 45-yard pass to J.J. Kirby to set up UST's lone score -- Nick Whitehead's three-yard run. Krby finished with two catches for 95 yards. Defensively, Andrew Ubbelohde has 12.5 tackles, including 1.5 sacks. Ben Kessler recovered a fumble.
Three first-half turnovers hurt the Tommies, including a 24-yard interception return for the Royals' first score. The Toms also lost a fumble at the Bethel 14-yard-line while trailing 19-0. The Royals scored on 4th-and-goal with :08 left in the first half, then scored again early in the third for a 37-0 lead.
The Tommies will host a junior-varsity game vs. Bethel Monday (6:30 p.m.).
The Tommies start their home season next Saturday vs. Hamline.
